UQ researcher Professor Thomas Marwick has generously donated 14 automatic external defibrillators recently used in a medical trial to the University.
The donation will be officially received by UQ Academic Registrar, Ms Linda Bird, on Friday, May 23 at 10am at the UQ Centre on the St Lucia Campus.
Professor Marwick said defibrillators were both expensive and sought after, and that he hoped having them distributed across various UQ locations would help in a future emergency.
Defibrillators are devices that apply sharp electrical shocks to the heart when its beating becomes dangerously rapid or chaotic.
The shocks can restore normal heart rhythms before the malfunctioning heart suffers sudden cardiac arrest, a seizure that can lead to death within minutes.
Each device has its own built-in computer which checks a victim’s heart rhythm through adhesive electrodes. The computer calculates whether defibrillation is needed and, if it is, a recorded voice tells the rescuer to press the shock button.
The donation will add to UQ’s existing defibrillator stock allowing the University’s 38,000 students, 6500 staff and varying numbers of guests greater access to the potentially lifesaving devices.
Associate Director of UQ’s Occupational Health and Safety Unit, Gary Chaplin, said the extra defibrillators were greatly appreciated and would be placed in the most beneficial locations.
“This donation will allow us to cover areas which previously we haven’t been able to,” Mr Chaplin said.
“The University is a large high-hazard workplace with a lot of different things going on and lot of buildings.
“These devices are a great asset and will improve our ability to provide a high level of first aid.”
Currently UQ has defibrillators in its security vans, at campus health services and at the Heron Island Research Station.
Thanks to the donation the devices will now be available at high-risk locations including the Moreton Bay Research Station, the Indooroopilly Mine and the Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture (EPSA) Faculty.
Mr Chaplin said it had not yet been decided where all 14 defibrillators would be placed but it was thought some would be kept as backups in security vans and campus health services would receive extras.
Prior to being donated to UQ, the devices were used in an NIH-funded medical trial which attempted to uncover whether providing a defibrillator to heart disease patients would increase survival in the event of cardiac arrest.
“The device didn’t make a difference when it was left in people’s homes in this trial,” Professor Marwick said.
“Interestingly, some lives were saved outside of the trial, where a neighbour had an arrest and someone borrowed the device to resuscitate them.
“This fits in with our philosophy in Australia, that the devices should be available in the community, including sports arenas and other places where large numbers of people gather or where people at high risk for heart attacks live.”
Professor Marwick will handover the 14 defibrillators to the University on Friday, May 23 at 10am. The presentation is to be held in the foyer of the UQ Centre, Union Road, St Lucia campus, and will be followed by morning tea.
MEDIA: Professor Marwick (07 3240 5399, t.marwick@uq.edu.au), Mr Chaplin (07 3365 2563, g.chaplin@uq.edu.au) or Penny Robinson at UQ Communications (07 3365 9723, penny.robinson@uq.edu.au)
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